Ford Talks Deeper Meaning Behind 'Ender's Game'

By ZACH SEEMAYER

October 21, 2013

On the surface, Ender's Game is an epic sci-fi tale of a young man who is thrust into a position of leadership, where he must helm the world's fighting forces in a battle against a malicious alien threat.

However, at its heart, it is an examination of mental health, bullying, children thrust into war, authority, and responsibility that has transcended generations.

Originally a massively-acclaimed military science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, the book has garnered a huge following of fans and dedicated enthusiasts, and the reason can be attributed to the message the book communicates.

According to the stars of the film, the cinematic adaptation looks to tackle those themes with all the fervor of the source material.

ET sat down recently with the cast of Ender's Game to see what they hoped the film would mean to those who watched it. Harrison Ford, widely considered to be one of the biggest icons in science fiction cinema due to his legendary roles in Star Wars, Blade Runner and Indiana Jones, opened up about why Ender's Game is truly important.

"One thing about science fiction that I really do admire is that it opens the doors of your imagination just a little bit wider," Ford said. "And you can imagine facing issues that we have in our real-life context, in the future, perhaps in an easier form."

One such issue is bullying. When Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is tapped by Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) to lead the military strike against the invading alien force, many of Ender's young peers become jealous and take their envy out on the young man.

Another real-life issue addressed in the film is the power of authority and the real existence of children forced into wars they didn't start and don't totally understand.

"But there are other more subtle thematics here," Ford says, discussing the many messages the film presents. "Which really are important considerations for our lives right here, right now, in this political, historic space."

Check out the video to hear more from the stars of Ender's Game, including Asa Butterfield, Viola Davis, and Hailee Steinfeld.